How Does Islam View the Relationship Between the Physical and Spiritual?
As-salamu alaykum! I'm not Muslim myself-I'm a Christian-but I've been learning about Islam and have lots of questions, so please bear with me if you see me asking a lot, haha. One thing I've been wondering about is how Islam sees the connection between the spiritual and physical worlds. Are they totally separate, somewhat linked, or completely united? In my faith, we believe they are closely connected. For example: - When a priest or bishop lays hands on someone, it’s believed to pass on spiritual blessings or healing. - Blessed icons are considered a glimpse into the divine. - During communion, we believe Christ is truly present both physically and spiritually. So I wanted to ask: in Islam, do the physical and spiritual affect each other in similar ways? Does what you do with your body influence your soul? Or is it more about your intentions and what’s inside? A few specific questions I have to understand better: 1. Do Muslims believe that outward acts like prayer movements or fasting have a direct spiritual impact on the soul? 2. Are there objects or rituals in Islam that carry special spiritual meaning-like water used for purification or the Kaaba in Makkah? 3. How is blessings or barakah understood-can it be passed through touch, objects, or certain places? 4. Regarding dress and appearance, is there a belief that how one looks on the outside reflects or affects the inner spiritual state? 5. Are there teachings showing that physical actions lead to spiritual results, whether good or bad? I’m really interested to hear from Muslims about this because in Christianity, we often see the physical and spiritual as deeply connected, especially through sacraments and rituals. Here’s a question that sums it up for me: when someone touches the Kaaba, is it Allah (SWT) working through the stone to forgive sins, or is it more about the person’s sincere intention for spiritual cleansing? It reminds me of different Christian views on baptism-some see it as just an outward sign of love for God, while others believe God truly works through the water to make the body holy. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and helping me understand better!